HABIB BEYE will compare scars with Didier Digard before trying to put one over the Middlesbrough mid- fielder tomorrow night.

For the duo share the unenviable experience of a painful brush with Boro old boy Lee Cattermole.

United full-back Beye was sidelined for almost three months after an X-rated challenge by Cattermole – now with Wigan – on Boxing Day shattered his ankle ligaments.

That came six weeks after Joey Barton was left with damaged knee ligaments by a Cattermole tackle when the Latics visited St James’s Park.

And Digard has only just returned to action after suffering a similar injury as a result of yet another Cattermole lunge.

Incredibly, Cattermole then launched a two-footed assault on Newcastle old boy Scott Parker’s season to earn a red card – even more incredibly, his first of the season – against West Ham in March.

In Beye’s eyes, it adds up to a diary of shame for which Cattermole has barely been punished.

“Steve Bruce (the Wigan manager) said after the game that it happens sometimes in football,” reflected Beye. “But I’ve seen the video and I think it was a bad tackle. And Cattermole has now done the same to Joey, Digard, me and Scott Parker. It was a bad injury – one of the worst I have had.

“It was hard being sidelined during the bad run,” he added. “You watch your friends and you can’t help.

“You just have to come back fitter and bring something to the team.

“How can we win these two next home games after winning six games all season? We don’t have a choice.”